Method and system for upgrading a universal remote control

• US 6,909,378 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2000
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Home Control Signapore Pte., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Note, Stefaan Marcel Maria, Wouters, Johan Agnes Emile, Musschebroeck, Rudy, Lambrechts, Marc Emiel Celine
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NAM V
• Application Number:
  US09/718,259
• Time in Patent Office: 1,672 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.22, 340/825.23, 340/825.24, 340/825.25, 340/825.27, 340/825.29, 340/825.72, 341/176, 359/146, 359/148, 455/151.4, 455/352, 379/102.01
• US Class Current: 340/4.32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control

Abstract

A method of and a system for upgrading a universal remote control with a command code of an electronic appliance are provided. The command code is downloaded from an internet server into a personal computer or set-top box, which is coupled to an infrared transmitter. The universal remote control is placed in front of the infrared transmitter and the command code is transferred to the universal remote control, for example in response to the user indicating a key, shown in a displayed picture of a control panel of the electronic appliance and associated with said command code.

Claims

1. A method of operating a data processing device and a universal remote control to program the universal remote control with at least one command code for facilitating an independent user control of at least one electronic appliance by at least one key of the universal remote control, the data processing device including a transmitter and the universal remote control including a receiver for establishing a communication between the data processing device and the universal remote control, the universal remote control being activated in a learning mode for enabling a user of the universal remote control to individually assign each command code to one of the at least one key, the method comprising:

detecting a first key selection of a first key by one of the user and the universal remote control during an activation of the learning mode of the universal remote control, the first key for implementing an independent user control of a first function associated with the at least one electronic appliance;

detecting a first code selection of a first command code by one of the user and the data processing device during the activation of the learning mode of the universal remote control, the first command code for controlling a performance of the first function of the at least one electronic appliance;

communicating the first command code from the data processing device to the universal remote control during the activation of the learning mode of the universal remote control and subsequent to the detection of both the first key selection and the first code selection; and

storing a first assignment of the first command code to the first key within the universal remote control during the activation of the learning mode of the universal remote control and subsequent to the communication of the first command code from the data processing device to the universal remote control.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second key selection of a second key by one of the user and the universal remote control during the activation of the learning mode of the universal remote control and subsequent to the first assignment of the first command code to the first key within the universal remote control, the second key for implementing an independent user control of a second function associated with the at least one electronic appliance;

detecting a second code selection of a second command code by one of the user and the data processing device during the activation of the learning mode of the universal remote control and subsequent to the first assignment of the first command code to the first key within the universal remote control, the second command code for controlling a performance of the second function by the at least one electronic appliance;

communicating the second command code from the data processing device to the universal remote control during the activation of the learning mode of the universal remote control and subsequent to the detection of both the second key selection and the second code selection; and

storing a second assignment of the second command code to the second key within the universal remote control-during the activation of the learning mode of the universal remote control and subsequent to the communication of the second command code from the data processing device to the universal remote control.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second code selection of a second command code and a device category by one of the user and the data processing device during the activation of the learning mode of the universal remote control and subsequent to the first assignment of the first command code to the fist key within the universal remote control, the device category being representative of a first electronic appliance, the second command code for controlling a performance of a second function by the first electronic appliance;

communicating the second command code and the device category from the data processing device to the universal remote control during the activation of the learning mode of the universal remote control and subsequent to the detection of the second code selection; and

subsequent to the communication of the second command code and the device category from the data processing device to the universal remote control, storing a second assignment of the second command code to a second key within the universal remote control based at least partially on the device category during the activation of the learning mode of the universal remote control, the second key for implementing an independent user control of the second function associated with the first electronic appliance.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second code selection of a second command code and a function category by one of the user and the data processing function during the activation of the learning mode of the universal remote control and subsequent to the first assignment of the first command code to the first key within the universal remote control, the function category being representative of a second function associated with the at least one electronic appliance, the second command key for controlling a performance of the second function by the at least one electronic appliance;

communicating the second command code and the function category from the data processing function to the universal remote control during the activation of the learning mode of the universal remote control and subsequent to the detection of the second code selection; and

subsequent to the communication of the second command code and the function category from the data processing device to the universal remote control, storing a second assignment of the second command code to a second key within the universal remote control based at least partially on the function category during the activation of the learning mode of the universal remote control, the second key for implementing an independent user control of the second function associated with the at least one electronic appliance.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface on the data processing device, the graphical user interface representative of a control panel of a first electronic appliance,

wherein the detection of the first code selection of the first command code by the user is in response to an interaction of the user with the graphical user interface to indicate a user selection of the first command code during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control.

6. A system, comprising:

a universal remote control including at least one key, said universal remote control operable to be activated in a learning mode for enabling a user of said universal remote control to individually assign each command code to one of said at least one key;

a data processing device operable to program said universal remote control with at least one command code for facilitating an independent user control of at least one electronic appliance by said at least one key of said universal remote control; and

wherein, during an activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control,

said universal remote control further includes means for detecting a first key selection of a first key by one of the user and the universal remote control, the first key for implementing an independent user control of a first function associated with the at least one electronic appliance,

said data processing device further includes means for detecting a first code selection of a first command code by one of the user and the data processing device, the first command code for controlling a performance of the first function of the at least one electronic appliance,

said data processing device and said universal remote control further include means for communicating the first command code from said data processing device to said universal remote control subsequent to the detection of both the first key selection and the first code selection, and

said universal remote control further includes means for storing a first assignment of the first command code to the first key subsequent to the communication of the first command code from said data processing device to said universal remote control.

7. The system of claim 6,

wherein, during an activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control,

said universal remote control further includes means for detecting a second key selection of a second key by one of the user and the universal remote control subsequent to the first assignment of the first command code to the first key within the universal remote control, the second key for implementing an independent user control of a second function associated with the at least one electronic appliance,

said data processing device further includes means for detecting a second code selection of a second command code by one of the user and the data processing device subsequent to the first assignment of the first command code to the first key within the universal remote control, the second command code for controlling a performance of the second function by the at least one electronic appliance,

said data processing device and said universal remote control further include means for communicating the second command code from said data processing device to said universal remote control subsequent to the detection of both the second key selection and the second code selection, and

said universal remote control further includes means for storing a second assignment of the second command code to the second key within said universal remote control subsequent to the communication of the second command code from said data processing device to said universal remote control.

8. The system of claim 6,

wherein, during an activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control,

said data processing device further includes means for detecting a second code selection of a second command code and a device category by one of the user and the data processing device subsequent to the first assignment of the first command code to the first key within the universal remote control, the device category being representative of a first electronic appliance, the second command code for controlling a performance of a second function by the first electronic appliance,

said data processing device and said universal remote control further include means for communicating the second command code and the device category from said data processing device to said universal remote control subsequent to the detection of the second code selection, and

subsequent to the communication of the second command code and the device category from said data processing device to said universal remote control, said universal remote control further includes means for storing a second assignment of the second command code to a second key within said universal remote control based at least partially on the device category, the second key for implementing an independent user control of the second function associated with the first electronic appliance.

9. The system of claim 6,

wherein, during an activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control,

said data processing device further includes means for detecting a second code selection of a second command code and a function category by one of the user and the data processing function subsequent to the first assignment of the first command code to the first key within the universal remote control, the function category being representative of a second function associated with the at least one electronic appliance, the second command key for controlling a performance of the second function by the at least one electronic appliance,

said data processing device and said universal remote control further include means for communicating the second command code and the function category from said data processing function to said universal remote control subsequent to the detection of the second code selection, and

subsequent to the communication of the second command code and the function category from said data processing device to said universal remote control, said universal remote control further includes means for storing a second assignment of the second command code to a second key within said universal remote control based at least partially on the function category, the second key for implementing an independent user control of the second function associated with the at least one electronic appliance.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

wherein said data processing device further includes means for displaying a graphical user interface representative of a control panel of a first electronic appliance,

wherein the detection of the first code selection of the first command code by the user is in response to an interaction of the user with the graphical user interface to indicate a user selection of the first command code during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control.

11. A system, comprising:

a universal remote control including at least one key, said universal remote control operable to be activated in a learning mode for enabling a user of said universal remote control to individually assign each command code to one of said at least one key;

a data processing device operable to program said universal remote control with at least one command code for facilitating an independent user control of at least one electronic appliance by said at least one key of said universal remote control, said data processing device including a transmitter and said universal remote control further including a receiver for establishing a communication between said data processing device and said universal remote controller, and

a computer program product in a computer readable medium distributed between said data processing device and said universal remote control, wherein said computer program product includes

computer readable code for detecting a first key selection of a first key by one of the user and the universal remote control during an activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control, the first key for implementing an independent user control of a first function associated with the at least one electronic appliance,

computer readable code for detecting a first code selection of a first command code by one of the user and the data processing device during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control, the first command code for controlling a performance of the first function of the at least one electronic appliance,

computer readable code for communicating the first command code from said data processing device to said universal remote control during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control and subsequent to the detection of both the first key selection and the first code selection, and

computer readable code for storing a first assignment of the first command code to the first key during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control and subsequent to the communication of the first command code from said data processing device to said universal remote control.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said computer program product further includes:

computer readable code for detecting a second key selection of a second key by one of the user and the universal remote control during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control and subsequent to the first assignment of the first command code to the first key within the universal remote control, the second key for implementing an independent user control of a second function associated with the at least one electronic appliance;

computer readable code for detecting a second code selection of a second command code by one of the user and the data processing device during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control and subsequent to the first assignment of the first command code to the first key within the universal remote control, the second command code for controlling a performance of the second function by the at least one electronic appliance;

computer readable code for communicating the second command code from said data processing device to said universal remote control during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control and subsequent to the detection of both the second key selection and the second code selection; and

computer readable code for storing a second assignment of the second command code to the second key within said universal remote control during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control and subsequent to the communication of the second command code from said data processing device to said universal remote control.

13. The system of claim 11,

wherein said data processing device further includes means for detecting a second code selection of a second command code and a device category by one of the user and the data processing device during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control and subsequent to the first assignment of the first command code to the first key within the universal remote control, the device category being representative of a first electronic appliance, the second command code for controlling a performance of a second function by the first electronic appliance;

wherein said data processing device and said universal remote control further include means for communicating the second command code and the device category from said data processing device to said universal remote control during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control and subsequent to the detection of the second code selection; and

wherein, during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control and subsequent to the communication of the second command code and the device category from said data processing device to said universal remote control, said universal remote control further includes means for storing a second assignment of the second command code to a second key within said universal remote control based at least partially on the device category, the second key for implementing an independent user control of the second function associated with the first electronic appliance.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said computer program product further includes:

computer readable code for detecting a second code selection of a second command code and a function category by one of the user and the data processing function during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control and subsequent to the first assignment of the first command code to the first key within the universal remote control, the function category being representative of a second function associated with the at least one electronic appliance, the second command key for controlling a performance of the second function by the at least one electronic appliance;

computer readable code for communicating the second command code and the function category from said data processing function to said universal remote control during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control and subsequent to the detection of the second code selection; and

computer readable code for, during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control and subsequent to the communication of the second command code and the function category from said data processing device to said universal remote control, storing a second assignment of the second command code to a second key within said universal remote control based at least partially on the function category, the second key for implementing an independent user control of the second function associated with the at least one electronic appliance.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said computer program product further includes computer readable code for displaying a graphical user interface on said data processing device, the graphical user interface being representative of a control panel of a first electronic appliance,

wherein the detection of the first code selection of the first command code by the user is in response to an interaction of the user with the graphical user interface to indicate a user selection of the first command code during the activation of the learning mode of said universal remote control.